U.S. patent application number 10/097006 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-19 for compositions and method for treating potted seedlings, and method for planting same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hattori, Toshio, Sasaki, Shigeo.
Application Number | 20020189512 10/097006 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18956234 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020189512 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hattori, Toshio ; et
al. |
December 19, 2002 |
Compositions and method for treating potted seedlings, and method
for planting same
Abstract
Treatment agents are provided for cell seedlings. Each treatment
agent comprises water, a dispersant, and activated carbon finely
dispersed with the dispersant in the water. Potted seedlings can be
treated by dipping them in the treatment agent and/or by irrigating
them with the treatment agent. In this manner, cell seedlings can
be pre-treated before planting. The thus-planted seedlings may be
irrigated with the treatment agent.
Inventors: |
Hattori, Toshio; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Sasaki, Shigeo; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON SPIVAK MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT PC
FOURTH FLOOR
1755 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals
Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18956234 |
Appl. No.: |
10/097006 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
111/100 ;
111/900; 111/905 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 111/90 20130101;
A01C 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
111/100 ;
111/900; 111/905 |
International
Class: |
A01C 011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 2001 |
JP |
2001-103126 |
Claims
1. A treatment agent for cell seedlings, comprising water, a
dispersant, and activated carbon finely dispersed with said
dispersant in said water.
2. A treatment agent according to claim 1, wherein said activated
carbon has an average particle size not greater than 100 .mu.m.
3. A treatment agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a content
of said activated carbon is from 1 to 50 wt. %.
4. A method for treating cell seedlings, which comprises dipping
said cell seedlings in a treatment agent as defined in claim 1
and/or irrigating said cell seedlings with a treatment agent as
defined in claim 1.
5. A method for planting cell seedlings, which comprises
pre-treating said cell seedlings by a treatment method as defined
in claim 4.
6. A planting method according to claim 5, further comprising
irrigating the thus-planted seedlings with a treatment agent as
defined in claim 1.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to compositions and a method for
treating potted seedlings and also to a method for planting the
potted seedlings. These compositions and method are useful for
rearing vegetable seedlings healthily in nursing trays. It is to be
noted that the term "potted seedlings" is used synonymously with
the term "cell seedlings" or "cell mold seedlings" herein.
Accordingly, these terms are interchangeable herein.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Rearing of seedlings is extremely important in the
cultivation of vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants. As is
mentioned "Seedlings, fifty percent crop", whether or not seedlings
are good until planting often governs the resulting crop yield and
quality.
[0005] Each farm has conventionally reared seedlings by itself
while making good use of its own experience and perception. Keeping
in step with a recent decrease in successors and the resulting
aging of those engaged in farming, however, specialization has
advanced in farming because of the increasing trend that many
farmers wish to be liberated from the irksomeness in rearing
seedlings and to concentrate on cultivation. A great majority of
farmers nowadays purchase seedlings and plant them,
accordingly.
[0006] A variety of rearing methods have been investigated for
seedlings. of these, rearing of seedlings in cells is about to
become a principal rearing technique for seedlings for various
reasons. Described specifically, a large number of seedlings can be
reared under control without needing much labor. These seedlings
are light in weight, so that they facilitate handling and provide
excellent transportation convenience. Upon transplanting, they can
be handled in much the same way as conventional seedlings with
soil-covered roots, and permit mechanization of transplanting
work.
[0007] "Cell seedlings" are regarded as one type of mold seedlings
reared with their rhizosphere rendered identical in volume and
shape by using containers or the like. The term "cell seedlings" as
used herein, therefore, means seedlings the roots of which have
been allowed to spread out through rhizosphere within "cells",
which in turn mean small containers or compartments, such that the
roots are molded within the cells as if potted.
[0008] In general, cell seedlings of a vegetable or the like are
reared using cell trays in each of which a number of cells are
connected together. In addition to the above-described meritorious
features, cell seedlings also have other features advantageous for
the systemization of rearing of seedlings such that the efficiency
of production of seedlings per unit area is high and the use of
seedlings with roots molded as if potted assures high efficiency in
planting work such as transplanting while reducing transplanting
injury.
[0009] As quality requirements for cell seedlings of vegetables or
the like, they must be healthy, that is, their roots have grown
sufficiently without spindly growth, and they can be expected to
achieve sure rooting (establishment) and growth after
transplanting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present inventors have proceeded with a variety of
investigations to provide cell seedlings of the above-described
quality. As a result, they have found that this object can be
achieved by treating seedlings, which are under rearing in cells,
with a treatment agent in which activated carbon is finely
dispersed in water, leading to the completion of the present
invention.
[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, there is thus
provided a treatment agent for cell seedlings, which comprises
water, a dispersant, and activated carbon finely dispersed with the
dispersant in the water.
[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a method for treating cell seedlings, which comprises
dipping the cell seedlings in the treatment agent and/or irrigating
the cell seedlings with the treatment agent.
[0013] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a method for planting cell seedlings, which comprises
pre-treating the cell seedlings by the treatment method. The
thus-planted seedlings may be irrigated with the treatment
agent.
[0014] The treatment agent and method according to the present
invention allow cell seedlings, which are under rearing, to grow
healthily and after planting, can promote their rooting and growth.
The planting method according to the present invention can provide
cell seedlings with good rooting and growth after planting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The present invention will hereinafter be described in
further detail.
[0016] Cell seedlings to which the present invention is applied are
seedlings of vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants. No
particular limitation is imposed on their species.
[0017] No particular limitation is imposed on the activated carbon
employed in the treatment agent of the present invention for cell
seedlings. Illustrative is one produced by carbonizing a raw
material such as charcoal, wood, sawdust, animal bones, coconut
shells or coal and activating the carbonized product with a
chemical or steam. Also usable are those commercially available as
powdered carbon, one obtained by grinding granular carbon, and
fibrous carbon.
[0018] Activated carbon is porous carbon with a number of minute
pores inside thereof, has a very large internal surface area, and
is equipped with function to adsorb a variety of molecules. By
attraction (van der Waales force) of carbon atoms inside the
activated carbon, various molecules are adsorbed and held.
[0019] The treatment agent according to the present invention for
cell seedlings of a vegetable or the like is a dispersion obtained
by finely dispersing activated carbon with a dispersant in water.
The content (concentration) of the activated carbon in the aqueous
dispersion is not particularly limited, but may range from 1 to 50
wt. %, more preferably from 10 to 30 wt. % on the basis of the
whole weight of the aqueous dispersion. If the content is lower
than the above range, the treatment agent may achieve neither
sufficient healthy growth [sufficient growth of roots and stems
(without spindly growth)] of cell seedlings nor satisfactory
post-planting rooting and growth. Even if the content is higher
than the above range, on the other hand, the advantageous effects
cannot be brought about as much as such a high content. Such a high
content is not only uneconomical but also detrimental to the
stability of the dispersion.
[0020] The activated carbon is dispersed with the dispersant in
water. No particular limitation is imposed on the dispersant for
use in the present invention, insofar as it is excellent in the
dispersing effect for activated carbon and has no problem in safety
and health. Examples of the dispersant can include, but are not
limited to, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic
surfactants, and silica sol. No particular limitation is imposed on
the amount of the dispersant to be used, although it is preferred
to use the dispersant in such an amount that its concentration in
the dispersion falls within a range of from 0.01 to 20 wt. % (based
on the whole weight of the aqueous dispersion). Upon treating cell
seedlings, the treatment agent according to the present invention
may be used after diluting it to an adequate concentration.
[0021] To disperse the activated carbon in water, a
conventionally-known dispersing apparatus such as a beads mill or
sand mill can be used. The activated carbon may preferably be
dispersed such that their average particle size in the dispersion
is reduced to 100 .mu.m or smaller.
[0022] The treatment of cell seedlings with the aqueous dispersion
of activated carbon can be performed, for example, by dipping the
cell seedlings in the aqueous dispersion of activated carbon
(hereinafter called "dipping"), irrigating the cell seedlings with
the aqueous dispersion of activated carbon, or using these dipping
and irrigation methods in combination. The treatment method is,
however, not limited to these methods, and no particular limitation
is imposed on the treatment method insofar as it can assure
sufficient contact between roots of cell seedlings and the aqueous
dispersion.
[0023] The treatment agent according to the present invention for
cell seedlings is effective for the healthy growth of the cell
seedlings (for the promotion of rooting, especially for the
formation of many hairy and small roots) until planting and also
for the promotion of rooting (establishment) and growth after
planting.
[0024] Before planting, the treatment agent can be used, for
example, by irrigating soil with it before seeding or irrigating
the soil with it shortly after the seeding and further irrigating
the soil with it as needed after the seeding until the planting
Upon planting, it is preferred to plant the cell seedlings, for
example, after dipping them in the treatment agent or irrigating
the rhizosphere with the treatment agent. After planting, on the
other hand, it is preferred to irrigate the treatment agent to
planting furrows as needed.
[0025] The present invention will next be described more
specifically based on Examples and Comparative Examples, in which
all designations of "part" or "parts" and "%" are on a weight
basis.
EXAMPLE 1 & COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1
[0026] Powdered activated carbon ("TAIKO ACTIVATED CARBON S", trade
name; product of Futamura Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) (25
parts), an anionic surfactant ("DEMOL P", trade name; product of
Kao Corporation) (2.5 parts) and water (72.5 parts) were dispersed
in a beads mill until the average particle size of the activated
carbon was reduced to 10 .mu.m or smaller. A cell seedling
treatment agent A was obtained.
[0027] On Jun. 1, 1999, cell seedlings of asparagus (2-year-old
seedlings reared in 9 cm pots were used) were treated by dipping
them for 30 minutes in a treatment bath of a 25-fold dilution of
the cell seedling treatment agent A, and were then pulled out of
the treatment bath. Those treated cell seedlings were reared until
Nov. 26, 1999. The results of a comparison in growth between the
treated cell seedlings and untreated cell seedlings are presented
as averages per seedling in Table 1.
1 TABLE 1 Example Comp. Ex. 1 Number of stems 20.0 15.7 Number of
storage roots 176 113 Weight of subterranean part (g) 663 357
Number of small scales 8.3 4.0
[0028] As is readily envisaged from Table 1, the growth of cell
seedlings of asparagus is promoted by dipping treatment in an
aqueous dispersion of activated carbon.
EXAMPLE 2 & COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2
[0029] On May 26, 2000, 2-year-old asparagus seedlings potted in 9
cm pots were dipped for 20 minutes in a 25-fold dilution of the
cell seedling treatment agent A of Example 1 such that each
seedling was soaked with 100 mL of the treatment solution, and the
potted seedlings were then pulled out of the treatment solution.
Shortly after that, they were planted in a field to be described
below. For some of the seedlings so planted, the soil with the
seedlings planted therein was irrigated with the above-described
dilution (irrigated amount: 400 mL per seedling). 357 seedlings
were planted as shown below.
2 Number of Details of treatment seedlings Dipping treatment 209
Dipping treatment, and post-planting irrigation 119 Untreated 29
Total 357
[0030] The cell seedlings treated as described above were planted
at plant-missing points in a field of asparagus plants in the
6.sup.th years of open-field culture after planting (7 ares,
inter-raw spacings: 1.8 m, in-raw spacings: 35 cm, missing plant
rate: 33.2%). On Dec. 8, 2000, 10 plants in each experimental plot
were examined at both aerial parts and subterranean parts thereof.
The untreated seedlings were also planted and examined likewise.
Experimental plots and details of the corresponding treatments are
summarized in Table 2. The results are presented in Table 3.
3 TABLE 2 Experimental plot Details of treatment Ex. 2 1 Dipping
(shortly before planting) 2 Dipping (shortly before planting) 3
Dipping (shortly before planting) + Soil irrigation (after
planting) 4 Dipping (shortly before planting) + Soil irrigation
(after planting) Comp. 1 Untreated (irrigated with Ex. 2 400 mL
water after planting) 2 Untreated (irrigated with 400 mL water
after planting)
[0031]
4 TABLE 3 Number of Effective Weight of Dry weight Number of non-
plant stems and of stems Weight Experimental productive productive
length sterns and sterns of roots plot stems stems (cm) (g)
(g/plant) Brix (%) (g) Sheltered 1 1.9 15.9 120 100.0 84.0 20.1 676
cultivation 1* 0.7 10.6 91 74.0 59.0 15.6 640 Open-field 2 2.0 10.1
101 41.0 30.0 16.9 232 cultivation 3 2.0 9.4 108 70.0 50.0 21.0 528
4 2.4 8.7 112 50.0 35.0 17.4 276 2* 0.9 5.9 86 35.0 19.5 17.8 196
*Comparative Example
[0032] This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent
Application 2001-103126 filed Apr. 2, 2001, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
* * * * *